Why So Few 3 inch Revolvers ?

M

Mike H

New member
Three inch is a great length in revolvers, a lot of people like it.

It has a velocity and accuracy advantage over snubbies, is easier to carry than a 4 inch and balances most small to mid frame sized revolvers perfectly.

I know we have the 65LS, the SP101 and some S&W Performance Center guns. But comparatively speaking that's hardly any, so what gives.

Quite why S&W don't bring back the Mod. 13 - 3 inch round butt is a complete mystery to me, because just about EVERYONE would buy one.

Mike H
 
I sure like the 3" too. I got my wife a 65LS with a 3", wish it was mine! I do get to shoot it though. S&W recently had a "stocking dealer special" of 3.25" barrel Model 66s with the high viz site. I saw one at a gunshop 6 months ago. Wow! Great looking revolver.

I've got a 66 with a 4" barrel. I have always wished it barrel was a tad shorter but not as short as the 2" barrel version. 3" or so is just right.
 
I agree 100% MikeH,

I'd love to see 3" 686's and 66's cataloged as standard items. I would note the model 60 is also available in 3" (or at least has been lately) and makes a much nicer gun than a lot of people would expect.

As for the 13 I think thats the demise of the blued guns as opposed to a 3" discrimnation and thats a whole other complaint...
 
I just bought the wife a GP100 series, stainless, 3 inch, fixed sights, "half lug" barrel. The gun store wanted $580 for a 65 Lady Smith:barf:

I would buy a 3 inch M13 or M65 in a heart beat. Can't get them in Kalifornia unless it's a private party transfer:mad:
 
3 incher

I do not know a mode to carry where a 3-incher has an advantage over a 4-incher.
To carry in an outer pocket I feel only a small frame 2 incher is small enough, in a shoulder rig the length of barrel makes no difference and on belt a 4-incher can be carried without problems.
I think the size of the grip makes much more effekt.
 
Smith &Wesson made a limited run of 686 in 3 inch barrel length for the US Customs Service and Lew Horton has 3 inch 629 every once and a while.:eek:
 
I think that the 3" is considered a snub by unknowing people or something. Theirs a chain out here called Gander Mountain (not sure how big they are, but several in Ohio) that doesn't carry any pistols or revolvers with less than a 4" barrel... I guess when you cut off that extra inch the gun goes crazy and kills people...

At least that's what they think..
 
MikeH...

I've talked to you SO much about that 3 inch barrel .32 H&R Magnum 101, that I've talked myself into buying one. My, how the mind works! (Somehow, I KNOW this one will be "confiscated" by my wife.)

KR
 
I have 3, 3-inch revolvers. It took a lot of looking and over a long period of time to find just these (the S&W 60 .38 was the easiest).

I have a S&W 60 .38, a Taurus 650 .357, and a Taurus 441 .44 special. I too prefer the 3" over either the 4" or 2" models.

Sure wish the makers would realize there is a market for 3" revolvers!

BTW - there was a couple of 3" S&W 65s for sale last week on gunsamerica here are the item numbers to search on:

GA# 976250324
GA# 976253811
GA# 976259294
 
I can think of 2 good reasons a 3 inch is better than a 4 inch for concealed carry.

First, a revolver with 1 inch less bbl is quicker to get out of the holster. One doesn't have to pull that extra inch out, maybe scrunched over doing so.

Secondly, the 3" has a lighter bbl than a 4" and is quicker to get on target. Engineers will quote rectilinear motion, angular velocities, moments of inertia, center of balance, and so on. Get right down to it, there is less weight to push/shove up and around.

These 2 reasons help negate the extra time it takes to draw from concealed, swinging the garment around, etc.
 
I just like the look of the 3" :) Seems to have good balance, whether a J-frame, K-frame, or Sp-101.

I fell in love with a 3" Smith, it was a 6 shot .38, blued, round butt with the old wood splinter grip and fixed sights. Didn't buy it at the time, don't remember the reason.

Now that I've become a much more capable revolver shooter, I miss that thing.
 
In order to join our club you must take a firearms safety class conisisting of both a lecture and range session. During the lecture session the instructor said that for home defense a handgun with a three inch barrel was the best choice since it would be harder for someone to grab than a longer one. I took him up on his suggestion and here are two of my favorites: Top is a 610-2 and the bottom is a 625-3.
 

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I like the full-length ejection rod of the 3-inch vs. the short ejector of the 2-inch.

I also want 6 rounds instead of 5. Most of the 2 inch guns with fixed sights hold only 5 rounds (38/357).
 
Jato: I agree with the full-length ejector rod.

JBP: I hope you aren't depending on the length (or shortness) of your barrel to turn the tide in a fight for a handgun.
 
JBP...

I don't think I've ever see a 625 with a three inch barrel. The 625-3's are not in my 2001 catalog nor my 2002 catalog. How did you come by that revolver? Very nice!

KR
 
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I hope you aren't depending on the length (or shortness) of your barrel to turn the tide in a fight for a handgun.
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No, but it's a lot less easy to grab than my 9 1/2" SRH. :D

KR: I picked up the 625 on either auctionarms.com or forthehunt.com sometime last year.
 
Both my gp100 and sp101 are in the 3 inch range. I am looking for a shorter 101, but plan to keep what I have. In the gp100 I got the small handgrips and I prefer them. And non-adjustable sights, but full length ejector rod.

I like snubbies, but I consider my 3 inchers to be a bet better on getting the bullet aimed at the target.

I figure a long barrel and adjustable sights would be for more hunting or target applications. Which is why 44s from ruger come in 5.5 inch barrels.
 
Ditto the comments about the SP101. I have a 3 inch in .38+P and just love that gun. One of the best reasons I love it so much was that I bought it for $230 bucks brand new. The dealer was glad to get rid of it because it had sat in his case for two years. Everybody wanted something longer or shorter in .357. Now it sits on my bed stand, beware BG! It is a sweet shooter!
 
Dammned if I know. It is a very practical barrel length. One of the most accurate revolvers I have ever fired was an S&W Chieffs Special 3 inch. :cool:
 
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